itsbeautifuloutside

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The Final Match Report

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The Italian referee got us underway. There was a brief period where the sides tested each other in midfield. On 2 minutes Muller chased a forward pass and was felled by Rojo giving Germany a presentable free kick outside the box. The ball rebounded from the wall enabling Argentina to break upfield. Lavezzi fed Higuain on the right but his hurried shot across goal went out for a throw.

Germany continually looked to progress down their right with Lahm providing an extra man behind Muller. The forward got free on 5 mins but his cross deflected to Romero. In midfield, Croos then attempted a cross field pass which hit the ref and went out for an Argentina throw. Germany recovered the ball and enjoyed good possession but Argentina seemed content to sit back and let them retain the ball. Things speeded up when Argentina gained possession – Messi won a foot race round the outside of Hummels but Schweinsteiger cut out his cross. Zabaleta was the next to get forward but his overhit pass eluded all-comers.

Argentina were getting forward now. Biglia tried his luck, his shot going off Howedes for a corner. Lavezzi’s first effort was headed behind by Klose. His next was safely claimed by Neuer. Germany then went down their right, Lahm looked for Klose in the box but the attentions of Demichelis caused the striker to misjudge the cross which went harmlessly away.

A foul on Klose allowed Croos to put another free-kick into the box but Zabaleta cleared. Another cross saw Demichelis head it out. Croos’s corner was knocked away but Germany soon recovered possession and attacked down their right. The ball was cleared for a throw. Kramer was lying prostrate on the ground and replays showed he’d been knocked out colliding with Garay.

The youngster eventually rejoined play but on 20 minutes Argentina should have gone ahead. Their initial attack had broken down with the ball cleared into midfield. Inexplicably, Toni Croos rose and headed it back over his defenders to Higuain who was jogging back towards him. The Napoli man turned and hit a shot from the edge of Neuer’s box – but dragged it wide of the post! That was a let off.

Soon Germany were probing down their right wing again. The industrious Lahm aimed a cross at Klose but the defence smuggled it away. Germany were still bossing possession. On 26 mins Schweinsteiger tried to force the issue but his forward pass ran out for a goal kick. A moment later the #7 lobbed a better ball into the area but Klose thought twice about tackling Romero as he raced out to claim it. Germany’s next attack saw Muller caught offside.

The first yellow arrived on 28 mins – Schweinsteiger on Lavezzi. Biglia touched the ball to Messi who dribbled towards goal. The defenders hacked the ball away but Argentina recovered it and put it wide right for Lavezzi. The PSG man curled a peach of a pass behind the defence and Higuain tucked it into the corner. He turned away to his left in celebration. Had he looked the other way he’d have seen the offside flag, correctly, held aloft - another near thing for Germany.

Kramer had spent 10 minutes wandering round in a daze. He was finally replaced on 31 minutes when Schurrle came on to take up residence on the left wing. Ozil moved into a more central position. Shortly afterwards Howedes was yellow-carded for a hack on Zabaleta. Germany were still trying to advance but were being met by stern resistance from some very good Argentine defenders.

On 35 mins Lavezzi and Messi organised a break downfield. Schweinsteiger cleared for a corner which Neuer comfortably claimed. Then Muller tried his luck on the left, broke past Zabaleta and pulled the ball back for Schurrle. The Chelsea man hit the target but Romero saved. Germany continued to press but failed to create clear chances. Then, on 39, Messi broke away beyond his marker. He cut in from the right, took out Neuer but Boateng swept the ball away.

An edge had crept into the game – the referee was obliged to talk to Muller and Rojo after a bout of handbags. On 43, Muller and Ozil create a chance which Romero saved from Croos. In the last minute of the half, Muller’s cross went beyond Klose. Goal kick – and 2 minutes injury time to be played. Germany won a corner which a defender put out. Croos took another and found Howedes barrelling past defenders. He met the cross firmly – and should have scored. Instead his powerful header rebounded off a post to Klose – who was offside. Half time: 0-0.

The Germans were out long before Argentina who brought on Aguero instead of Lavezzi. Argentina started brightly, mounting a series of attacks. Initially Higuain was caught offside. Then Aguero ran onto a through ball but was outpaced by the impressive Boateng. The next attack saw Messi played in behind the defenders. This was his moment – but his cross shot went past Neuer’s far post.

The 'shot' of the night turned out to be a brilliant view of the statue of Christ the Redeemer against the setting sun. Breathtaking! Argentina continued to press – Higuain swung and missed. Then Messi came forward again but was seen off by Boateng. Germany moved upfield but lost possession. Argentina broke quickly down their left and Aguero was only stopped by another excellent Boateng tackle.

The referee then made a couple of very dubious decisions. Firstly he gave Argentina a free-kick when Muller was having his shirt taken from his back by a defender. A moment later, Neuer raced to the edge of his box to clatter Higuain – free kick Germany?

On 59 mins, Lahm finally found the head of Klose with a cross. His header was on target but did not trouble Romero. Germany then constructed a sweet passing move let down by Lahm’s overhit final pass. An hour had gone – yet Klose was still on the park. Was this a first? Indeed, the World Cup’s all-time top scorer soon won back a ball and fed Schurrle down the left. The cross was on the money but somehow Ozil got in the way and it bounced out for a goal kick.

Mascherano got his side’s first yellow for a trip on Klose. He was immediately followed into the book when Aguero clattered Schweinsteiger on 65 mins. Next Biglia was tripped but Neuer came to claim the lofted free kick. Scuffles seemed to be breaking out all over the pitch; the atmosphere was not helped by more poor refereeing decisions.

Schweinsteiger was having a great match – time and again he got a foot in to derail promising moves. On 70 a lovely German move found Schurrle in the box but he moved as though he was wading in wet cement. The ball was cleared by Romero. Schurrle’s next involvement saw him turn and hit a ball played up to him. The ball kept rising into the night sky…

On 73 mins Messi returned to the game. Good defending by Hummels saw him off at first but Zabaleta and his captain then worked the ball in from the right. Messi hit a trademark left foot curler from the edge of the box which Neuer was pleased to see sail beyond his back post. On 77 Higuain was replaced by Palacio. Messi then tried to run onto a ball into the box but it was smothered by Neuer’s dive.

Germany then won a corner. The defence initially got it away but Germany won the ball back and found Howedes in front of goal. Just when they wanted Klose on the end of it, they got their left back. He took an age to sort his feet out and the ball was cleared. On 82 mins Lahm and Ozil worked an opening for Croos but he shot wide. Then Palacio found Messi but his pass went beyond Aguero.

Argentina brought on their final sub; Gago on for Perez on 86 mins. Argentina went on the attack but Messi was halted by another great tackle by Boateng. Then Klose was eventually replaced by Goetze. Palacio’s attempt to get forward was ended by Howedes’ firm tackle.

3 extra minutes began and Goetze hit a weak shot at Romero. There was just time for Muller to miss a chance and Hummels to make a timely clearance. Then time was up: 90 minutes – still 0-0. The Germans had clocked 3 shots on target – Argentina had none…

This, apparently, was the 7th World Cup final to go to extra time. Schurrle had an early shot saved before Argentina got forward. A cross sailed through the penalty area but no attacker was in it…

Schweinsteiger then got a nasty boot in the face. Germany pressed again but Lahm’s passing had gone awry and defences seemed to be getting on top. Then, on 97 mins, a simple forward pass from Rojo found Palacio breaking into the box. He chested it down then tried to lob the advancing Neuer. He cleared the keeper but missed the goal and Boateng saw it out for a goal kick.

Germany were still trying to get forward and Mascherano was kept busy breaking up attacks: he was lucky to get away with a nasty foul on Schweinsteiger. The first 15 minutes ended with Germany pressing and Argentina defending.

Argentina started the final period on the front foot but the ever alert Neuer was quick to grasp any ball that came near. Schweinsteiger then had a rough few minutes in which he was fouled 3 times – Zabaleta and Aguero might easily have seen red but it was the German who had to leave the field. He got treatment for a deep cut on his cheek, courtesy of Aguero. Shortly afterwards Demichelis was downed following a clash of heads.

There was under 10 minutes left when Schweinsteiger rejoined. Shortly afterwards Germany concocted the sort of goal fit to win any match – even this World Cup final. Schurrle picked up the ball near the half-way line and made a determined break down the left. His cross found Goetze breaking into the box. The sub controlled the ball on his chest before sweeping a sweet, left foot volley across Romero and into the far corner! 1-0 and I doubt Schweinsteiger felt any further pain during the last 6 minutes.

Germany continued to pass the ball but Argentina now chased it with renewed intent. Messi and Palacio worked hard to get their team forward but the excellent Boateng and his goalkeeper remained strong for Germany. With 3 minutes left Rojo got down the left. His cross found Messi but Neuer watched as the header cleared his bar.

In the final minute Muller broke down the left but fired his shot across the face of the goal. As we moved into 2 added minutes, Mertesacker replaced Ozil and joined the white defensive wall. With seconds remaining, Schweinsteiger brought down Messi giving the little man one last free kick. In his mind’s eye he no doubt saw the world’s best keeper clutching at air as the ball nestled in the net. In reality - in Rio - his shot cleared the bar and the game was up.

Germany had won their first World Cup since re-unification and their players and supporters went wild. Argentinian fans wept and, one imagines, the whole host nation gave a collective sigh of relief…

Man of the match: Tough choice – Schweinsteiger had a cracking game and came very close to garnering my vote. But I’ve never been able to resist a meaty challenge from a big-centre half and, for his exceptional defending throughout the final, my MoM is Jerome Boateng.

The teams were kept waiting far too long for the presentations. As Sepp and Dilma entered the pitch, there was a reassuring barrage of booing. Neuer quite rightly won the Golden Glove. James Rodriguez (in absentia) won the Golden Boot. For some reason (known only to FIFA and their backers) Messi won the Golden Ball – for player of the tournament. I can think of a dozen players, half of them German, more deserving of that award.

Eventually the medals were doled out, Angela Merkel hugged every German player and Philip Lahm finally got to lift the cup. Well done Germany. That was an impressive tournament and that old 'Europe can’t win in America' hoodoo has finally been put to bed.

And well done Brazil. It may not have been the football result you wanted but Brazil 2014 has been a big success. After the delights of the Copacabana, Moscow and the Arabian desert have a lot to live up to…

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